A River Between

Today, June 21st, is the Summer Solstice. It is the longest day of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Countless religions around the world have celebrations and holidays centered upon the Summer Solstice. It’s known as a day of harvest, reaping rewards for your labor, giving thanks and renewing your spiritual commitments. It’s a day of preparing for the future as our days begin to shorten and we begin a “Journey into the darkness” towards Winter Solstice. Today is also World Peace and Prayer Day.

About a week ago, I donated food to go toward a luncheon for the Wolakota youth Peace Runners who passed through Northfield, MN on their way to Piedmont, SD for World Peace and Prayer Day. Runners from the four directions were to meet in South Dakota today, on the Summer Solstice to start this prayerful celebration and ceremony of renewal.

Recently, a second rare white buffalo was born in Kentucky. There have been other reports of rare, non-albino, white animals being born across the country. The Lakota Sioux tribe views these happenings as the sign of the “Return of the Medicine Woman” and the coming of a new time of peace and harmony.

I love this story of hope. I believe that this is also a symbolic call for all of us to renew our commitments to do good things for the betterment of our world. There is beauty happening all around us, despite war, violence, oppression, and hatred. We just have to find it and start the celebration. We have to let ourselves be a beginning link in a long chain of events that will eventually bring about peace, harmony, and change. Our neighborhoods, workspaces, homes, and areas we dwell, are all sacred spaces as they embody our life on this earth. If we view all as sacred, then we would always look for ways to bring about renewal, sustainability, and peace.

Have a very happy Summer Solstice. Take some time to renew yourself and your surroundings today. Honor the miracle of the return of the Medicine Woman.